The Associate of Arts in early childhood education is designed to serve students either as a stand-alone associate degree, or as a university transfer degree. The transfer option allows students to complete specific lower division courses at TMCC and obtain an Associate of Arts degree in early childhood education; and then transfer to UNR as a junior to complete a bachelor of science degree in human development and family studies. Students are encouraged to obtain academic advisement from early childhood education faculty to facilitate the university transfer process.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing this emphasis will:
Demonstrate competence in the knowledge and skills defined in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation (ECADA) Standards for Initial and Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs.
Promoting Child Development and Learning
Building Family and Community Relationships
Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families
Using Developmentally Effective Approaches
Using Content Knowledge to Build Meaningful Curriculum
Becoming a Professional
Demonstrate proficiency as a preschool teacher in an early childhood program.
Demonstrate the scope of knowledge and skills required to gain entry into a baccalaureate degree program.

The Associate of Arts degree in secondary education is designed for students seeking careers in secondary education (junior and senior high schools). The degree requirements include a well-balanced general education curriculum. Specific curriculum provides students with educational theory and practical field work in the secondary education school settings.
In addition, students will also need to select a “teaching major” and complete some of the coursework prior to transfer. This course of study is designated as a university transfer program that substantially meets the requirements for the first two years of study for the B.A. in secondary education majors at UNR. Also, please note: Any concerns or questions of requirements when entering a teaching certification program need to be addressed by advisors for any university of interest.
In order to complete an AA, the ‘teaching major’ courses will include a focus in foreign languages, English, social studies, history, music, art, career and technical.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Demonstrate the scope of knowledge and skills based on the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards and Five Domains of Professional Competence.

The Associate of Arts degree in psychology is designed for students seeking careers in psychology or related fields. The degree requirements include a well-balanced general education curriculum. Specific curriculum provides students with major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in psychology. In addition, students will come to understand and apply basic research methods in psychology. This course of study is designed as a university transfer program that substantially meets the requirements for the first two years of study for the B.A. in psychology at UNR. In addition, students have the possibility to begin work on a minor in addiction treatment services that is available at UNR. Students wishing to transfer to any other baccalaureate program should work closely with TMCC advisors and advisors at the institution of transfer to obtain recommended courses for transfer.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in psychology.
Understand and apply basic academic research methods in psychology including research design, data analysis and interpretation.
Apply psychological principles to understand human behavior.

The music program seeks to be an outstanding performing arts program within the visual and performing arts department noted for its excellence in the classroom and on stage that provides our students with the knowledge and skills upon which they build careers and become productive citizens.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Show competence in specific practical music skills.
Show competence in supportive and theoretical and information necessary to sustain and forward music as an art form.
Transfer to a baccalaureate program or work in the music field as an instructor, educator, technician or performer.

The Associate of Arts–fine arts degree is primarily for the student who is planning to make a career in the fine arts. The emphasis is in studio art with an awareness of art history and fine art communication skills. The Associate of Arts – fine arts degree is a transferable degree satisfying lower-division university requirements for a baccalaureate degree in fine arts.
Degree Outcomes
Students completing the degree will:
Acquire specific practical fine arts skills.
Acquire the supportive and theoretical information necessary to sustain and forward techniques in the studio arts.
Transfer to a baccalaureate program or become a professional in the studio arts or in a related field.

The theater program seeks to be an outstanding performing arts program within the visual and performing arts department, noted for its excellence in the classroom and on stage. The program provides our students with the knowledge and skills upon which they build careers and become productive citizens.

The dance program seeks to be an outstanding performing arts program within the visual and performing arts department. This program is noted for its excellence in the classroom and on stage, providing our students with the knowledge and skills upon which they build careers and become productive students.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Demonstrate competency in specific dance skills.
Demonstrate competence in skills relating to the knowledge of the historical and cultural dimensions of dance.

The art history emphasis area within the Associate of Arts degree allows the department of visual and performing arts to serve those students seeking to transfer into a baccalaureate program in art history. This emphasis area stresses critical analysis of art, knowledge and awareness of a variety of western and global artistic traditions and communications skills.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Successfully transfer to a baccalaureate program.
Acquire the supportive and theoretical information necessary to sustain and forward analysis of the visual arts.

This program is developed to provide the student with a well-rounded, intermediate level education of the universal language and art form of musical theater. The student will be introduced to and developed in the various areas of musical theater including historical study, appreciation, musical theater styles, vocal techniques, acting, dance and performance. The program will include repeated practical application in the rehearsal and preparation areas for public performance and presentation.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Demonstrate competency in specific practical musical and theatrical skills, including voice, song, dance, acting, theatre production, and special projects.
Demonstrate competence in skills relating to the knowledge of the historical and cultural dimensions of musical theater which is necessary to forward musical theater as an art form.

This degree emphasizes a critical understanding and appreciation of literature through an introduction to, and investigation of, its foundations and expressions. The English emphasis within the Associate of Arts degree program allows the TMCC English department to serve those students seeking a terminal degree or transfer into a baccalaureate program.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Identify and explain the methods and materials of literary research and gain the ability to conduct basic literary research.
Evaluate/analyze/synthesize historical and cultural attitudes and ideas, including the ability to identify common and dissimilar traits, that emerge from literary masterpieces.
Analyze literature of various periods and come to understand each as a unique art form that reflects human life, culture, trends, and ideas of the time.
Cross-apply knowledge gained from previous courses in the analysis/synthesis and/or production of creative works.

The Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in business is designed for students who are interested in graduating from TMCC and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business at a four-year accredited institution. This degree is the result of a cooperative effort with NSHE to allow students to freely transfer more business units than previously offered through the Associate of Applied Science degree. Since this emphasis is part of a 2+2 program, students receiving this degree will be eligible for transfer to upper division status in UNR’s College of Business. Within the program, students will explore a wide variety of opportunities in various business fields. The solid background in economics, statistics, and accounting is designed to provide skills required to pursue advanced degrees in any business major. In addition to the completion of the AA business emphasis, students must also have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 to be admitted directly into a major in UNR’s College of Business.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Obtain the required knowledge and familiarity with the range of business disciplines including accounting, economics, statistics, and marketing.
Demonstrate understanding of and competency in applied skills, analytical skills, and interpersonal/group relation skills as they contribute to business professional skills.

This degree prepares students to start their own business ventures or act and participate in any size organization with an entrepreneurial spirit. Students who successfully complete this degree will be eligible for transfer to upper division status in the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Graduate and/or transfer to a four-year institution.
Demonstrate their proficiency and knowledge of the fundamentals of small business management.
Assist in the development of entrepreneurial enterprises in the Reno community.

The Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Human Development and Family Studies prepares students to work with children, youth, and families in a variety of settings. The program is a study of theories and research of the human lifecycle, family systems, and the larger socio-economic environment. The Associate of Arts degree is designed to transfer to UNR. Students complete lower division courses at TMCC and then transfer to UNR to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in HDFS. Students are encouraged to obtain academic advisement from early childhood education faculty to facilitate the university transfer process.

This degree emphasizes the study of the Spanish language structures and cultural topics with a focus on development of communicative proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. A cultural-comparative approach will be drawn throughout the program, focusing on history and literature from Spain and Hispanic Latin American countries. The Spanish emphasis within the Associate of Arts degree program allows the TMCC Humanities department to serve those students seeking transfer into a baccalaureate program.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Read, understand, interpret and communicate spoken and/or written Spanish.
Identify values and cultural mores associated with Hispanic Iberian and Latin American cultures.
Explain and analyze the major historical challenges of Spain and Hispanic Latin American countries and appraise their popular cultures and literature.

The Associate of Arts degree is primarily for the student who plans to transfer with junior standing to a four-year college or university for a baccalaureate degree. The philosophy emphasis is intended to adequately prepare the transfer student who plans to obtain a B.A. in philosophy.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Describe major historical developments in Western philosophy.
Identify major philosophical figures and define their contributions to the history and the development of philosophical thought.
Explain ethical theory.

The Associate of Arts degree in anthropology is designed for students seeking careers in anthropology or related fields. The degree requirements include general education requirements to gain a breadth of knowledge in a wide array of disciplines. Students will also specialize in the theoretical, methodological, and topical concerns of anthropology. This course of study is designed as a university transfer degree or can be tailored for those wishing an emphasis in applied anthropology to gain the practical knowledge to enter the workforce in entry level positions. The Associate of Arts degree is fully accepted at any four-year institution in the NSHE system and is fully transferable to most four-year schools in the nation.

The history emphasis area within the Associate of Arts degree allows the TMCC history department to serve those students seeking to transfer into a baccalaureate program in history. This emphasis area stresses historical thinking skills as well as historical knowledge.
Emphasis Outcomes
Students completing the emphasis will:
Evaluate historical arguments and interpretations.
Interpret evidence found in primary sources and develop a historical argument based on and sustained by the evidence available.
Write historical essays that are coherent, cogent, and grammatically correct.

The Associate of Arts (AA) Degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university for a baccalaureate degree. Satisfactory completion of the degree guarantees fulfillment of lower-division general education requirements at UNR, UNLV, or NSC. Students who intend to transfer to other institutions should consult an advisor or follow the catalog of the transfer institution.
Degree Outcomes
Students completing the degree will:
Be prepared to transfer to college and university baccalaureate programs with junior standing.
Complete TMCC’s general education transfer requirements.
Acquire the knowledge, skills, and values consistent with a liberal arts education.
Acquire the knowledge of the subject matter appropriate to their academic emphasis.